toastmaster-magazine-2016

It is with great pleasure I write these
few lines felicitating the 15th anniversary
of the Serendib Toastmasters club.
The gavel club too celebrates another
victorious year which marks a great
triumph for the club as it takes a lot of
time, hard work and willpower from
Toastmasters and Gaveliers to run it
fruitfully.
I joined the gavel club 6 years back,
and I never realized at that time that I was
beginning a transformative experience.
Oh sure, I signed up to get better at
public speaking, but what’s more is that
through the Gavel club- whether speaking
extemporaneously in table topics, giving
a prepared speech or evaluating a fellow
Gavelier- I have always reaped more than
what I expected.
I joined as a member, and started
taking up assisting roles which taught me
the art of carrying out leadership. And
Gav. Nuha Rizan, CG
President 2014-2015
when the time came, I was elected president which was
an incomparable experience as I became more confident
as a person and also learnt what it takes to be a good
leader.
The Gavel club has been a beacon of strength for most
of us, bringing out the potential in us to speak and lead.
So we Gaveliers acquire skills that help us in many walks
of life. It provides us with many opportunities to grow
and therefore we should utilize every opening we get, to
prepare ourselves for the future.
I encourage all youngsters to join the gavel club and
benefit from this marvelous program- I assure you, it is
the best decision you will ever make.
While congratulating the outgoing presidents and their
executive team, I wish the incoming committee the best
of luck for another prosperous year.
Always thought I can’t do anything but Toastmasters
encouraged me to do something I’ve never done before…
Before entering Toastmasters, I
was a very shy person who had stage
fear. I have never spoken in front of an
audience before that memorable moment
of joining the Serendib Gavel Club. I have
lost great opportunities because of my
stage fear.
On the first day in the gavel club,
the guests were called out to comment
on the program. When it was my turn,
my heart was beating as fast as ever. I
walked up to the lectern with great fear. I
was stuck for a moment but with the help
of the President and the Gaveliers, I was
able to speak a few words. A few weeks
Gav. Anuk Ranaweera
later, I got inducted. My first job was to be one of the
meeting leaders. And guess what, I won the Best Meeting
Leader Title. Slowly my mentor encouraged me to deliver
my first speech. With every speech I delivered, I gained
confidence. Now because of Toastmasters, I got over my
stage fear and can talk anywhere confidently.
Thank you Toastmasters, for helping me get over my
greatest fear in life. I wish I could complete all my projects
in a short period of time.
SERENDIB BREEZE
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